Greece just introduced new 4500t LSTH as well.
This was likely what’s stimulating the current Turkish interest in better amphibious capability.

This statement would make sense if the two LST’s were the only projects regarding Turkish Amphibious Capability.

A vast modernization process is underway regarding amphibious & power projection capabilities, which are:

1. 1 x LPD
2. 2 x LST
3. 8 x LCT
4. 6 x CH (for the LPD, most probably CH-60 [S-70])
5. 1 x AOR

As for the AAW capability, current fleet has serious shortcomings.

On the other hand, several major projects are underway:

1. Procurement of 4 – 6 AAW FFG’s
2. Mk41 – ESSM to the first two ships of Barbaros class
3. Mk41 to 4 FFG-7’s and procurement of 2 more FFG-7’s from USA (total 10 FFG-7’s) + C&C modernization of FFG-7’s (GENESIS Project)
4. MilGem corvette and TF-100 multimission frigate projects for ASuW and ASW protection.
5. MPA aircraft (6 x CN-235MPA + 10 x ATR-72MPA), ASW Helicopters (7 + 17 S-70B-28)
6. Distant Horizon Naval C4ISR network project (most of the project is already operational)

These ambitious projects take the biggest portion from the defense budget.

Procuring an LPD does not necessarily mean it is going to be used for a landing operation to the nearby island. It constitutes to the overall power projection capability which itself is a huge force multiplyer and deterrence factor.

The dokdo class is larger and I think ideal for turkey. It will be cheaper than european yards. Other than this ship which can be used as LPH korea can also build LPD’s for turkey to replace the county class LST.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KRI_Makassar_class

In fact Turkey also has a project for the production of two LST’s to replace the County Class L401 Ertugrul and L402 Serdar.

If Turkey does buy the Dokdo class, I think Fincantieri will be unhappy. Aren’t they the other main contender?

Correct. Italians reportedly came up with a very attractive offer, including the amount of local participation.

The only equipment I would put on LCS is a self-destruct mechanism…

Have any of you considered the possibility that it has some AShMs but that these are launched from the torpedo tubes (they look like 533mm heavyweight DP tubes, not the 324mm ASW tubes, and so should be able to handle Klub-S variants)? :diablo:

Excuse me if I’m missing some cynicism here since caffein in my blood had dropped radically, but that’s a hard to imagine, let alone consider, way of launching surface-to-surface missiles; especially for a ship which has a much orthodox design with minimum or no innovation.

Compare e.g. Neustrashimy > no visible AShM launchers

AShM launchers are not visible on Neustrashimy, because there is none. The ships are fitted-but-not-with Kh-35 Uran’s.

There design is indigenous based on the OPV that are also being built. do not think any russian firm was consulted for this unlike P-17 or P-15A.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/NOPV.html

By resemblance, I ddn’t mean consulting or any other organic relationship with Russian shipyards or designs. What I meant was rather a philosophical level, i.e way of thinking..

As for the mission of the ship, I think Victor is right. It seems this corvette is designed to operate under protection against air and surface threats, most probably at littoral waters around important strategic locations (such as trade lines, harbors, bases etc) and protection of convoys, fleet groups.

Hi broncho,

This model was on display in Gardean Reach’s stand in DSA 2008 exhibition last week, at Kuala Lumpur.

Because the current strategy and doctrine of Turkish Navy, for the foreseeable future I might add, highlights amphibious operations, littoral warfare and dominance in Eastern Med region. The studies in mid 90’s concluded that fixed wing aircraft and aircraft carriers are overkill for such requirement; from both operational and economic perspectives.